The financial conditions required to qualify for a legal residency permit in Mexico differ depending on whether the applicant want to obtain a temporary or permanent residency permit.
Permanent residence permits are issued promptly upon acceptance for people with a higher salary.
Temporary residency permits like the Mexico digital nomad visa are originally valid for one year, with subsequent ones lasting for up to four years.
Mexican investor visa requirements
Qualifying methods include:
The applicant must have maintained a minimum monthly balance for the last 12 months.
Investing in Mexican Real Estate
$188,674 investment with no debt, levies, or mortgage associated. The investment only covers a temporary residency visa; $472 (UMA) proof of income per month per dependent, including spouse and minor children under the age of 18.
Capital Investment
A $100,000 economic or business activities investment in a privately held Mexican company or a company or companies registered on the Mexican stock exchange; $472 (UMA) evidence of income each month per dependent, including spouse and minor children under the age of 18.
FEES:
- $260 for permanent residency;
- $240 for a one-year temporary residency;
- $320 for a two-year temporary residency;
- $400 for a three-year temporary residency;
- $480 for a four-year temporary residency.
Mexico residence eligibility based on monthly income (2023)
This chart shows the minimum monthly income required in the six months preceding your application date (Mexican consulate requires 12 months in some places).
See the following section for qualification based on savings/investments.
Based on the legal multiples of UMA or Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) required for qualification, the figures below are expressed in Mexican pesos (MXN) with an approximate equivalent in US dollars (USD).
See the preceding section for more information on how the’multiples’ are used in these calculations.
Monthly income required.
Type of ResidencyMinimum Daily Wage (Monthly Earnings)UMA (Monthly Earnings)
MXN$62,232 | USD$3,275 MXN$31,122 | USD$1,638 Temporary Residency
Permanent Residency MXN$103,720 | USD$5,459 MXN$51,870 | USD$2,730 Dependent Spouse MXN$20,744 | USD$1,092 MXN$10,374 | USD$546 “Family Unit”* MXN$20,744 | USD$1,092 MXN$10,374 | USD$546 Student (Temporary Residency) MXN$12,446
Mexico residence qualification based on savings/investment balances (2023)
This table depicts the needed minimum average monthly balance (cash or investments), which must be proved for at least a full 12 months before your application date. See the previous section for information on monthly earnings.
Based on the legal multiples of UMA or Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) required for qualification, the figures below are expressed in Mexican pesos (MXN) with an approximate equivalent in US dollars (USD). See the preceding section for more information on how the’multiples’ are used in these calculations.
Required savings/investment balance
The Mexican government does not consider cryptocurrency to be a form of savings.
MDW 2023: $207.44 Mexican pesos; UMA 2023: $103.74 pesos
Mexico Investment-Based Temporary Residency
Another option for obtaining temporary residency (and eventually citizenship) in Mexico is to invest in the country, such as in business, property, or local Mexican stocks. You must demonstrate investments in both real estate and stocks. These investments should total at least $123,330 in property value and $86,000 in Mexican corporation shares.
You must also demonstrate that you have contributed to the development of Mexico’s economy by submitting papers such as invoices, bank accounts, receipts, contracts, business plans, permits, and your registration with the Mexican Social Security institute, indicating that you employ at least three people.
This permit is valid for one year and can be extended for another one to three years. There is no physical presence requirement in Mexico to keep your temporary residency card, and you can freely enter Mexico and exit the country without any issues.
It is crucial to highlight that if you wish to seek for citizenship later (through the citizenship-by-investment program), you should spend the majority of the year in Mexico.
Qualification for residency in Mexico based on the value of your home (2023)
If you own a residential property in Mexico (not overseas) with a market worth of at least 40,000x the Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) or UMA, you can apply for a temporary resident visa.
This equates to:
- MXN$8,297,600 (approximately $437,000 US dollars) if MDW is used in the calculation; or
- MXN$4,149,600 (approximately $218,400 US dollars) if UMA is used in the calculation; and:
- The property must be located in Mexico;
- The property value must be free of any liens (debts, charges, or mortgages);
- The name that is noted on the deed or sales contract must match the name of the applicant.
Although you cannot apply for Permanent Residency using your Mexican home value right away, you may apply to exchange it for Permanent Residency after four years of holding Temporary Residency.
Qualification for residency based on a capital investment in Mexico (2023)
If you commit to investing in a private Mexican-owned company or a company or companies registered on the Mexican stock exchange, you may be eligible to become a temporary resident. The needed minimum investment is 20,000 times the minimum daily wage (MDW) or UMA.
This equates to:
- MXN$4,148,800 (approximately US$218,000) if MDW is used; or
- MXN$2,074,000 (approximately US$109,200) if UMA is used; and:
- the capital must be invested in one of a prescribed set of ways; and
- these applications tend to be more complex than applications made using ‘economic solvency’ or ‘family unit.’
Although you cannot apply for permanent residency directly with a cash investment in Mexico, you may apply to switch from a temporary resident card to permanent resident after four years.
Obtaining Mexican Citizenship
Foreign investors may be relieved to learn that Mexico allows dual citizenship and that the path to citizenship is simple once you’ve secured permanent residence.
Naturalization, which requires five years of residency in Mexico, is the most popular procedure for foreigners to qualify for a Mexican passport.
During this five-year period, both temporary and permanent residence can be counted. If you are from other Latin American countries or the Iberian Peninsula, however, you can become a citizen by naturalization after only two years of lawful residency.
